Chevron, one of many companies grabbing at Brazil’s huge underwater oil reserves, is in trouble with the Brazilian government after a major spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro last month. After 3,000 barrels of crude oil from a Chevron-operated well poured into the ocean in November, Brazilian police filed an $11 billion lawsuit against Chevron and rig owner Transocean (the same firm that owned Deepwater Horizon) on charges of negligence and environmental crimes. The National Petroleum Agency has also temporarily banned Chevron from further drilling in Brazil.

An aerial view of the Chevron spill on 11/18/11. Photo credit: Reuters

Federal prosecutors urge for charges to be brought against 17 Chevron and Transocean employees, including Chevron’s president in Brazil George Buck, for withholding information and committing environmental damage. The officer leading the investigation, Fabio Scliar, stated, “I am utterly convinced that the company’s institutional policy is reckless and irresponsible. Therefore, the executives are responsible.” Chevron has apologized but stressed that the allegations are “without merit.”

The outrage in Brazil might be compounded by the fact that the World Cup and Summer Olympics are coming there in 2014 and 2016 so there is pressure for the beaches to look picture perfect. Also, Chevron’s disgusting environmental track record doesn’t inspire confidence. AlterNet, an independent environmental news agency, ranked Chevron the number one worst energy company in the world partly due to their toxic dumping and human rights abuses in Ecuador.

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference comes to a close today in Durban, South Africa, many people are questioning how world leaders will settle on collective action for a healthier planet. While many countries have come prepared to openly negotiate at this global summit, it seems the world’s biggest emmiters remain unwilling to make significant changes.

Activists and politicians are accusing India, Brazil, the United States and China (who together account for nearly half of the world’s emissions) of being uncooperative when it comes to creating a legally-binding international deal that commits countries to reducing their emissions. For now it looks like a standoff between these four countries and the EU, which is backed by coalitions of small island nations and least developed countries. Both India and China contend that cutting emissions would hamper their economic growth, and the United States announced its refusal to comply with certain Kyoto Protocol pledges that expire next year.

"Youth calling for action on climate change form a giant lion's head on the beach in Durban" Photo: Reuters. Source: The Guardian

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, “The European Union has said it will not renew its emissions reduction pledges unless all countries agree to launch negotiations on a new treaty that would equally oblige all countries – including the world’s two largest polluters, the United States and China – to control their emissions.” Europe is calling on the UN to negotiate a new climate deal by 2015 which would cover all major economies. In a joint statement at the conference, countries standing with the EU conveyed concern about waiting three more years: “The gap between our ambitions and the current pledges is simply too wide. The chance to reach our objective is getting smaller as time passes and we need to start this process today.”

Despite many differences, indicators are strong that the conference will end with an agreement on the creation of a $100 billion Green Climate Fund to help developing countries cope with climate change. The BBC reports that “the draft agreement for this meeting specifies that a levy on fuel used by international shipping could be one source of money for the fund.”

Here are some of the latest news stories about solar energy:

Chevron Makes Use Of Solar Energy to Recover Oil: “What if solar energy is generated in order to extract oil from mature oil fields? Does this constitute a spectacular irony, or a clever application of renewable energy; one that may be justified in a world where oil is likely to remain fundamental to our economy for a considerable number of years to come?”

Aging Parking Meters Get Solar Upgrade: “A small solar-powered parking meter company is benefiting from the down economy and aging parking infrastructure.”

Why Americans Like Solar Energy: Executive Director of the Sierra Club, Michael Brune, discusses how “recent polling and surveys indicate that, by and large, regardless of our politics, we still think developing solar energy is a great idea. ”

World’s Largest Solar Bridge Under Construction in London: “An iconic steam-era railway bridge is to become the world’s largest solar bridge.” This project seems to “have a particular symbolic value when discussing the dawn of a new energy paradigm.” An interesting follow up to this article is: Solar is Possible on Listed Historic Buildings. Should It Be?

Image credit: TreeHugger

Solar Power For Third-World Ag Boosted: U.S-based non-profit Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is investing in a program that serves as “an integrated approach to implementing solar energy systems that empower rural communities in developing countries to improve their health, education, economic development and food and water security.”

Here are some of the latest news stories about water and the environment:

Their Mission: To Build a Better Toilet: “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has begun a ‘Reinvent the Toilet’ competition and awarded $3 million to researchers at eight universities, challenging them to use recent technology to create models that needn’t be connected to sewers, or to water and electricity lines, and that cost less than pennies per person a day to use.”

Can water end the Arab-Israeli conflict?: “Could solving the water crisis in Israel and Palestine also help resolve the entrenched occupation and conflict?”

Sunflowers used to clean up radiation: “Scientists have discovered that sunflowers can pull radioactive contaminants out of the soil and the water, and researchers cleaning up the Fukushima site in Japan are putting the flowers to the test.”

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef ‘at risk from pesticide’: “Agricultural pesticides are causing significant damage to the Great Barrier Reef, according to a new Australian government report on water quality at the site.”

9 year old’s clean water fundraiser reaches $1 million two months after her death: “Two months after Rachel Beckwith’s ninth birthday, the fund-raising campaign of the girl who died in a traffic accident last month has raised more than $1 million to bring clean water to African villages.” GIVE TO RACHEL’S CAMPAIGN HERE.

How will the 1.1 billion people living in India today cope with climate change? As resources dwindle and weather patterns become more erratic, the country’s rural majority will dive deeper into poverty due to global climate disruption if action is not taken to alleviate the risk. Through rain water harvesting and accessible career training, local forward-thinking institutions are transforming communities to be better prepared for environmental hardships ahead.

A reporter from National Geographic wrote this article about one community that, after decades of suffering from the chokehold of poverty, has become an “incredible example of how rainwater harvesting can create prosperity.” Government environmental regeneration programs have helped villagers install rainwater storage systems,  and this investment in sustainable development is proving highly effective.

"Kamla Devi was Rajasthan's first woman to graduate from Barefoot college as a solar engineer." Photo credit: The Guardian

Elsewhere in India, Barefoot College is training rural women to become green entrepreneurs in an effort to help the country grow in a way that is environmentally responsible. Barefoot College’s low cost, decentralized and community driven approach capitalizes on the potential already present in villages by training the women in skills including solar engineering, healthcare and water testing. Check out this article about one of the College’s success stories,  a 19-year-old, semi-literate woman from a small village who “has broken through India’s rigid caste system to become the country’s first Dalit [“untouchable”] solar engineer.”